The Influence of Attachment to Primary Caregivers and Family Interaction on Rural Children’s Social Competence: The Mediating Effect of Self-Regulation Ability

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether attachment to primary caregivers and family interaction affect rural children’s social competence through self-regulation ability. To achieve this, a survey was conducted with 345 students aged 11-13 attending elementary schools in a rural area of Gyeongsang Province. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and path analysis using the AMOS 23.0 program. The main result was that rural children’s self-regulation had an indirect effect on attachment with primary caregivers and family interaction through social competence. The findings of this study will contribute to designing a variety of programs that can promote the positive development of social competence among rural children.